How to Care for Wool
Posted by Chris Cox on
Let's talk Wool!
Not only are Wool Covers, Shorties, Longies and Underwoolies super comfortable and cozy, but they are a year-round day and night cloth diaper essential. When we say year-round, we mean summer included! Wool is very breathable and if you are used to waking up with a soaked child, PJs and sheets at night, then wool is a must have!
Wool can absorab up to 3-5 times it's own weight before feeling wet. So if you are experiencing leaks with your current diapering solution, wool will help prevent those night time PJ/sheet changes.
You can use your wool pants as PJ's, Sweats or dressy pants, remember all day, year-round :)
There are 2 different types of Wool.
Knit wool is like Sustainablebabyish wool (similar to the quality of a wool sweater you would buy in a store). You can't wash it in the washing machine otherwise it felts/shrinks. So you care for it with wool wash and lanolize it to make it more "waterproof". (See instructions below how to wash knit wool and then lanolize in a lano bath)
Interlock Wool is like Rainbow Waters or Sloomb Interlock Wool Covers. It is single layer wool (much thinner that Sloomb) and is already preshrunk/felted. Very easy to wash in the washing machine and then you can lanolize it also for extra leak protection.
Caring for Wool is not complicated or hard, but rather easy. After being lanolized, the wool is protected from any moisture (think Scotchguarding your furniture). If it does get damp, simply hang your wool out to dry for a few hours and it is ready to be used again. Wool only needs to be washed when really soiled (aka poop, excessive dirt, etc).
Now how do you care for your Wool?
You can wash your wool with liquid Wool Wash or Wool Wash Bar and Lanolize very easily with Spray Lano (check out Bee Green, or Sheepish Grins on our Website). After you gently wash your Wool, Spray Lanolize the wool especially the Wetzone (inside and out), pat into the wool and hang up to dry. Done!
Or if you would like to Lanolize your Wool using Solid Lanolin for extra protection follow these awesome pictures and the description put together by Jordan B. :)
Wool can absorab up to 3-5 times it's own weight before feeling wet. So if you are experiencing leaks with your current diapering solution, wool will help prevent those night time PJ/sheet changes.
You can use your wool pants as PJ's, Sweats or dressy pants, remember all day, year-round :)
There are 2 different types of Wool.
Knit wool is like Sustainablebabyish wool (similar to the quality of a wool sweater you would buy in a store). You can't wash it in the washing machine otherwise it felts/shrinks. So you care for it with wool wash and lanolize it to make it more "waterproof". (See instructions below how to wash knit wool and then lanolize in a lano bath)
Interlock Wool is like Rainbow Waters or Sloomb Interlock Wool Covers. It is single layer wool (much thinner that Sloomb) and is already preshrunk/felted. Very easy to wash in the washing machine and then you can lanolize it also for extra leak protection.
Caring for Wool is not complicated or hard, but rather easy. After being lanolized, the wool is protected from any moisture (think Scotchguarding your furniture). If it does get damp, simply hang your wool out to dry for a few hours and it is ready to be used again. Wool only needs to be washed when really soiled (aka poop, excessive dirt, etc).
Now how do you care for your Wool?
You can wash your wool with liquid Wool Wash or Wool Wash Bar and Lanolize very easily with Spray Lano (check out Bee Green, or Sheepish Grins on our Website). After you gently wash your Wool, Spray Lanolize the wool especially the Wetzone (inside and out), pat into the wool and hang up to dry. Done!
Or if you would like to Lanolize your Wool using Solid Lanolin for extra protection follow these awesome pictures and the description put together by Jordan B. :)
1) Wash woolies (even brand new ones) with wool wash in warm water (no warmer than you'd bathe your baby). Let soak about 15 mins (longer won't hurt) and gently rub any spots that need extra attention with wool wash (e.g. CJ's wool wash). I fill the lano bath at this time too so the water temps are the same when I switch my wool over.
*While woolies are soaking make your lano mix*
2) Add your lanolin (e.g. Sheepish Grins Lanolin found in our Sustainable Babyish section) to some water in a microwavable container. I use 1 tsp solid lanolin per piece of wool.
3) Microwave for 1-1 1/2 mins
4) Cut some chunks of wool wash (or use a liquid wool wash e.g. CJ's Wool Wash)
5) Add wool wash to your heated lano mix and stir, stir, stir.....
6) If you can still see the lano/oil it's not mixed in enough and you may need more wool wash. (I added a 3rd chunk here). Keep stirring...
*A mason jar works well since you can shake it instead of stir*
7) Once it looks like whole milk or close to it (took 3 mins of stirring to get milky) Place the jar in the warm water you're going to add the mix to, to help it cool to the right temp to prevent lano clumps. (lano clumps really aren't a huge deal but I don't like them)
8) Once cool enough add lano mix to the warm water.
9) Gently wring out your wool from the wash. Add your woolies! Let soak for a few HOURS!!!! Over night perferably, if it is brand new wool (especially thick wool like Sloomb), I would let them dry after an overnight soak and repeat with a second all night (or day) lano bath before using the first time.
10) When done soaking, roll woolies in a dry towel to remove excess water. Remove from towel and lay out to dry flat.
Thanks Jordan for the great description and Pictures!